Acetylene-gas-generating lamp.



Nu. 654,244. Patented My 24, I900..

D. GENESE.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATING LAM P.

(Application filed Sept. 9, 1899.)

Fries.

DAvID GENESE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ACETYLENE GAs-GENfiRATiNG LAM P.

$PEOZFIGATEON forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,244, dated July 24, 1900.

Application filed geptember 9, 1899. Serial No. 729,988. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that LDAVID GENEsE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Acetylene- Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in acetylene-lamps, and particularly to certain improvements in the form of lamp shown and described in my Patent No. 638,328, dated December 5, 1b99. The improvements referred to relate to the means for admitting water into the generating-chamber and to the carbid holder or cartridge.

Specific objects of the invention are to provide improved means for admitting water into the generating-chamber, whereby the supply.

of water shall be regulated by the pressure of the gas generated and whereby there shall be no danger of gas escaping through the water-supply inlet, and to provide an improved telescoping carbid holder or cartridge whereby provision is made for the expansion of the carbid.

Further objects of the invention relate to certain details of constructionywhich will more fully hereinafter appear. I

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in sectional elevation of alamp constructed according to my invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are views in elevation, respectively, of the two parts of the carbid holder or cartridge; and Fig. 4 is a broken plan view of a flanged ring or guard used in connection with the carbid holder or cartridge.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the casing of the generating-chamher, which casing is in the form of a cylinder, open at both ends and provided at each end with interior screw-threads. On one end of this cylinder is screwed a bottom 2, while 6, extending through a depending eXteriorly-' screw-threaded projection7." The numeral 8 indicates a Valve for closing this aperture, which valve is normally held to its seat in the aperture by a spring 9. Secured to the valve is a rod 10, extending through a stuffing-box 11 to the outside of the top or cover 3, where-it is provided with a knob 12 or the like for lifting the valve 8 from its seat against the resistance of spring 9. The cover 3 is provided with a filling-orifice 13, closed by a suitable cap or plug 14.

The numeral 15 indicates a hollow porous cup or vessel having a screw-threaded open ing in its upper side of a size to permit it to be screwed on the projection 7. The bottom wall of this vessel is rounded, as shown at 16. The vessel 15 may be made of acomposition such as described in my application referred t.o--viz., South Carolina rock, marhie-dust, and plaster-of-parisor-it may be made of unglazed porcelain, or other porous material which will not expand or crack under exposure to water.

The carbid holder or cartridge comprises a cylindrical cup 17, open at the top and closed at the bottom and having its top edge corrugated, as indicated at 18. The other member of the holder comprises a cylindrical cap 19, open at the bottom and closed at the top, of a size to. telescope freely on the cup 17, and having its bottom edge corrugated, as indicated at 20. The top of this cap is thickened, as indicated at 21, and its upper side is recessed, as shown at 22.

Depending from the under side of the thickened top 21 is a projection 23, leading down into which from the center of the recess 22 is a passage 24. The cup 17 and the cap 19 may both be made of the porous materials above indicated, or the cup 17 may be made of metal.

The numeral 25 indicates acylindrical ring or guard, into the bottom of which is snugly but slidably mounted a reduced portion 26 of the top 21 of cap 19. The guard 25 is provided at-top and bottom with annular flanges 27 28, having perforations 29. This guard is designed to frictionally engage the wall of casing 1, a stop 30 being provided to facilitate its adjustment to the properheight in'th'e casing. The guard 25 is for the purposelof preventing the water from running over the side of the top 21, its construction and operation being the same as that described in my patent referred to.

The numeral 31 indicates a gas-holder for the generated gas and constitutes the main chamber of the lamp proper. In the top of chamber 31 is secured a tube 32, having a valve 33 and a burner 31. Communication between the generating-chamber 1 and the gas-holder 31 is afforded by a pipe 35, having a valve 36.

The manner of assembling the parts and the operation is as follows: The cup 17 is filled with carbid and the cap 19 is placed over the same, the projection 23 extending down in the body of carbid. The bottom 2 having been removed and the guard 25 placed in position in the cylinder or chamber 1, the carbid holder or cartridge 17 19 is now inserted, the reduced part 26 of the porous cap entering the guard 25. v The bottom is then screwed on. The chamber 4 having been filled. with water through the filling-orifice 13, the valve 8 is raised by means of knob 12 and rod 10 and water allowed to pass through aperture 6 into the porous vessel 15, when the knob 12 is released and the valve 8 is returned to its seat by the spring 9. The water willin a short time percolate through the bottom of vessel 15 and by reason of said bottom being rounded will fall from the center thereof in drops into the recess 22, thence passing down into the passage 24, and percolating through the porous projection 23 it will attack the carbid and cause the generation of gas. The valve 36 being open the gas will pass through pipe 35 into the chamber 31 and thence to the burner 34. \Vhen the gas has filled the chamber 31 and the generating-chamber 1, or, in other words, when the pressure of gas has reached a given point, the water will be prevented from percolating through vessel 15, and the generation of gas will be thereby automatically arrested, only to be again continued when the pressure has been decreased by the consumption of gas a sufilcient amount to permit the water to drop from the vessel 15. As the carbid expands under the action of the waterthe cap 19 will thereby be raised to allow for this expansion, the reduced portion 26 of the cap sliding up in guard 25. The corrugated edges ofthe cap and cup prevent the flow of gas from beingimpeded when the cap is in its lowermost position, as will be understood. From time to time the water in vessel 15 may be removed by raising valve 8, and it will be seen that when the valve is opened it will be impossible for the gas to find its way into the watercompartment 4, owing to the fact that the aperture 16 is entirely inclosed by the porous vessel 15. There is therefore no danger of any gas escaping when the cap 14 is unscrewed to permit the chamber 1 to be filled with water. W'hen it is desired to remove the carbid-holder to replenish the cap 17 with carbid or to insert a new cartridge, the valve 36 is first turned to close communication between chamber 31 and the generating-chamber to prevent any gas that may be in the former from passing back into the generating-chamber and escaping.

In order to provide against an explosion due to the overgeneration of gas, I make the chambers 1 and 31 of sufficient strength to withstand the pressure that would result from the entire volume of gas that could be generated from the charge of carbid.

My improved lamp is intended primarily for use as a stand-lamp in the household, but may be employed on bicycles, carriages, or the like.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination with the generating-chamber adapted to contain a body of carbid, of a water-supply for said chamber and an im perforate, porous on p for receiving the water from said supply and feeding it to the carbid and having a gas-tight connection with said supply, said cup being located between said water-supply and the generating-chamber and above and out of contact with the carbid of the latter, substantially as described.

2. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination with the generating-chamber adapted to contain a body of carbid, of a water-compartment having an outlet opening into said generating-chamber, and a hollow, imperforate, porous vessel having a rounded bottom for causing water to drop from the center thereof and communicating with and hermetically secured about said outlet, said cup being located between said \vater-su ppl y and the generating-chamber and above and out of contact with the carbid of the latter, substantially as described.

3. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination with the generating-chamber of a cup for containing the carbid having a corrugated upper edge, and a porous cap telescoped over said cup and having a corrugated lower edge, substantially as described.

4. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination with the generating-chamber of a cup for con taining the carbid and a porous cap telescoped over said cup and having its upper end thickened and provided with a recess and aguide for said thickened end, substantially as described.

5. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination with the generating-chamber of a cup for containin g the carbid and a porous cap telescoped over said cup and having its upper end thickened and provided with a recess and a depend ing projection having a bore communicating with said recess and extending only part way through said projection, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID GEN ESE.

\Vitnesses:

HARRY C. MATHIEU, JOHN B. SANNER. 

